Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Come Up Small in Measuring Stick Game

I think a trade is all but certain at this point.

Connor MacDavid

Berube (on the root cause of the team's awful second period): We stopped playing, stopped skating. We were standing around and started watching them play."
- bmeltzer

Bill, this has been a constant theme for 5+ years! Why? How? The roster has been revamped, different coaches have been behind the bench...

Could it be that the owner and or management makes it to comfortable for the players?

Connor MacDavid
- Orpik44

We'll be in last again next year?

Missed the game tonight for studying.

Maybe a good thing.

Dark times. The bonds of fellowship dont seem to be as strong with this crew.

Connor MacDavid
- Orpik44

Wrong draft year Mr. Troll.

Painful game. Mason was the only reason we could even entertain the idea of a tie and 1 point up for grabs in OT.

What can we get for Coburn and Simmonds?

Speaking of Coburn, WTF happened with him behind Mason on that 3rd Pens goal? Did he try to pass it or did it get stolen from him? Either way, I guess it's almost expected at this point with this team.

Bill, who gets scratched when Vinny and Hartnell are healthy? No way should it be Raffl, that kid can skate, he's not afraid to lay the body once in a while, and he's definitely got a nose for the net. And there's no way it can be their leading scorer, one Tye McGinn. So who sits?

Painful game. Mason was the only reason we could even entertain the idea of a tie and 1 point up for grabs in OT.

What can we get for Coburn and Simmonds?

Speaking of Coburn, WTF happened with him behind Mason on that 3rd Pens goal? Did he try to pass it or did it get stolen from him? Either way, I guess it's almost expected at this point with this team.

Bill, who gets scratched when Vinny and Hartnell are healthy? No way should it be Raffl, that kid can skate, he's not afraid to lay the body once in a while, and he's definitely got a nose for the net. And there's no way it can be their leading scorer, one Tye McGinn. So who sits?
- wolfhounds

Mr. Consistency

Painful game. Mason was the only reason we could even entertain the idea of a tie and 1 point up for grabs in OT.

What can we get for Coburn and Simmonds?

Speaking of Coburn, WTF happened with him behind Mason on that 3rd Pens goal? Did he try to pass it or did it get stolen from him? Either way, I guess it's almost expected at this point with this team.

Bill, who gets scratched when Vinny and Hartnell are healthy? No way should it be Raffl, that kid can skate, he's not afraid to lay the body once in a while, and he's definitely got a nose for the net. And there's no way it can be their leading scorer, one Tye McGinn. So who sits?
- wolfhounds

Mason was great, I haven't given him enough credit. I still remember how he looked in Columbus at the end of his time there but he's much better now.

Crosby stole that puck from Coburn, he needs to fire it around the boards there.

Mason was great, I haven't given him enough credit. I still remember how he looked in Columbus at the end of his time there but he's much better now.

Crosby stole that puck from Coburn, he needs to fire it around the boards there.
- canadianpenfan

Yup. For once we have a solid tender that can steal us some games and we've forgotten how to score goals. Just absurd.

Good steal by Crosby there, was tough to see. And horrible play by Coburn allowing that to happen.

What can we get for Coburn and Simmonds?

- wolfhounds

Hard to tell right now as its still early and there aren't many sellers just yet. I don't think Coburn and Simmonds alone get us the piece we need though.

Hard to tell right now as its still early and there aren't many sellers just yet. I don't think Coburn and Simmonds alone get us the piece we need though.
- hereticpride

What piece exactly? An upgrade for Coburn?

are you guys noticing a lack of effort from the nhl regulars? i find it strange that players can come from the AHL and play better than the regulars

are you guys noticing a lack of effort from the nhl regulars? i find it strange that players can come from the AHL and play better than the regulars
- 2Real

Good observation and yes I have, and not just on the Flyers. It's like playing not to get hurt or strain anything is the norm, then carefully pick your shots when the time is right and risk relatively low. "For who, for what", comes to mind. Is it rich contracts with no trade clauses? Over regulation, CBA provisions and legal ramifications? Perhaps it is only the older bull at the top of the hill suggesting to the young bull that it would be wise to walk and not run down to the young cows, saving energy for the mating activities. No matter, it does weaken the on ice product fans pay dearly to see and gets coaches or GM's recycled/fired.

two quick question/comments guys.

I have no idea what this team is lacking. truly it seems ENTIRELY in these players heads right now, because their is plenty of skill. but i am intrigued of what direction most people think they should go in, because i for one am befuddled.

my other comment is about chris stewart who is well known to be great friends with wayne simmonds. He certainly seems like a "philadelphia" type player, much like simmonds is: tough worker, decent scorer, and plays with a huge amount of heart.
I simply feel like the value on stewart has never been lower and perhaps ANY trade could jump start the flyers, especially one which brings in a hard working player who happens to already be great friends with one of the guys on the team.

i just cant watch anymore hockey if its going to be like thurs nights second period. SOMETHING MUST CHANGE!

are you guys noticing a lack of effort from the nhl regulars? i find it strange that players can come from the AHL and play better than the regulars
- 2Real

Wonderful point! right on the money!

I dont care if its giroux or any of these veterans--if you dont hustle, your butt should be on the dang bench.
I would MUCH rather see lesser skilled players playing their hearts out and working as hard as they can, then to watch overpriced veterans skate around like they have a soiled diaper in their pants.

i can live with loosing. i cant be ok with not hustling and giving maximum effort.

no team (especially a team as good as pittsburgh) should be allowed to hook guys down to create turnovers. as much as people are complaining about the penalties the flyers take, i believe it is the calls that they don't get, like that blatant hook from kobasew on timonen on the pens first goal, that are more demoralizing

Over the next 6 days can they trade the entire team? Well not Mason. At this point I don't care who gets traded. Trade for some heart. I can deal with a team that isn't that good, but I can't deal with a team that doesn't try and has no heart. Even Rinaldo seemed flat which you never see. The should have been forced to watch that game again last before they were allowed to leave, let them see the sh*# we had to watch.

It was like watching men vs boys out there. The Pens completely out classed them. Over the next 6 days It's time for the fans to re-evaluate if we want to continue watching this joke on ice.

no team (especially a team as good as pittsburgh) should be allowed to hook guys down to create turnovers. as much as people are complaining about the penalties the flyers take, i believe it is the calls that they don't get, like that blatant hook from kobasew on timonen on the pens first goal, that are more demoralizing
- hogweed

The PP hasn't exactly been lights out. I know they scored one last night, but not sure if having the PP helps or hurts this team.

SOMETHING MUST CHANGE!

- flyguy1911

you're right. but every guy they bring here either immediately or eventually loses most of the skill that made them effective elsewhere. b schenn was "the best player not in the nhl", and that from other folks in the league not just flyers' spin, and it wasn't because he was missing wide open nets from 5' out in the slot in big games like he did last night. simmonds looked awesome his first year here and now it looks like he never played the game (exaggeration for emphasis) and if matt read misses one more puck trying to take a shot i will need to be institutionalized; i won't even get in to giroux's embarrassing and mortifying loss of confidence/talent/whatever, but it is really an epidemic that starts somewhere beyond the ice surface and the locker room.

Kimmo looks like everything has finally caught up to him. That $6mm is looking like an anchor.

Painful game. Mason was the only reason we could even entertain the idea of a tie and 1 point up for grabs in OT.

What can we get for Coburn and Simmonds?

Speaking of Coburn, WTF happened with him behind Mason on that 3rd Pens goal? Did he try to pass it or did it get stolen from him? Either way, I guess it's almost expected at this point with this team.

Bill, who gets scratched when Vinny and Hartnell are healthy? No way should it be Raffl, that kid can skate, he's not afraid to lay the body once in a while, and he's definitely got a nose for the net. And there's no way it can be their leading scorer, one Tye McGinn. So who sits?
- wolfhounds

Hartnell

you're right. but every guy they bring here either immediately or eventually loses most of the skill that made them effective elsewhere. b schenn was "the best player not in the nhl", and that from other folks in the league not just flyers' spin, and it wasn't because he was missing wide open nets from 5' out in the slot in big games like he did last night. simmonds looked awesome his first year here and now it looks like he never played the game (exaggeration for emphasis) and if matt read misses one more puck trying to take a shot i will need to be institutionalized; i won't even get in to giroux's embarrassing and mortifying loss of confidence/talent/whatever, but it is really an epidemic that starts somewhere beyond the ice surface and the locker room.
- hogweed

I do wonder if what things would be like if they hadn't essentially wasted training camp. What if Berube or another coach had an offseason with these guys? This malaise was there from day 1 of the offseason.